warth



3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.)

WARTH. REIN CONTROLLER.

Patented Apr. 29 1884.

Fmmumn npkm. Wz-hinglon, D a

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

- A-. WARTH.

. REIN CONTROLLER. No. 297,886. Patent'ed Apr. 29,1884.

WITNESsES} INVEIiLIfOR @fivW Maw WM: 4

- ATTORNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALBI'N WARTH, OF STAPLETON, NEW YORK.

' RElN-CONTROLLER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 297,886, dated April 29, 1884'.

Application filed October 10, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that I, ALBIN WARTH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Stapleton, in the county of Richm nd and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Rein-Controllers, of which the following is a specification.-.

This invention relates to rein-controllers of the character described in LettersPatent of the United States granted to me September 19, 1882, No. 264,803; and it consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, whereby, among other things,

the utility of such controllers is promoted.

The reins A are connected to a handle, 0 the opposite ends of which are provided with- In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 shows a rein-controller in plan view embodying my present improvements when adapted to three pairs of horses. Fig. 2 is a cross-section thereof on the line at m, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the same on the line 1 1 Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a ,side view, partly in section, showing the controller constructed for one or two horses. Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the positions of parts when the reins are not in use. Fig. 6 isa detail cross-section on the line a 2, Fig. 4.

Similar letters indicate similar parts.

The letterA designates a pair of reins such as are commonly used for driving horses, to one of which reins is attached a loop, ,3, in such a manner that the other rein may be drawn through this loop, as shown in Fig. 1, bringing the reins close together at that place. In practice, said loop B is placed at a point approximately opposite the horses tail, or intermediate of the animal and vehicle, and by its means the liability of having one of the reins caught by the horses tail is effectually avoided, enabling the driver to control the animal with comfort and safety. The attachment of the loop B to the rein may be effected through a strap, B, or other suitable means.

hooks O, or other suitable means for holding the reins, and which, in this example, is mounted on a pivotal support, 0, to oscillate in a horizontal plane. The hooks O are jointed to the handle 0, to swing outward from the positionshown in Fig. 1, andby this means such hooks are adapted to accommodate themselves to the reins in the movements of the handle.

To engage the hooks 0, each of the reins'is provided with a series of holes, A, and since either of these holes may-be placed on the hooks the'reins can thereby be readily shortened or'lengthened.

On opposite sides of the center of the handle 0 are branches or offsets G, which project in curved lines in a forward and lateral direction therefrom. The purpose of these branches 0 is to afford a rest to the hand of the driver in lateral directions, they being at a suitable distance apart from each other to admit the hand between them, and, due to the curvature of the branches, a very convenient hold is obtained in performing the required movements,

of the hand.

To the opposite ends of the handle 0 is eon- I nected a strap, D, which projects in a rearward direction therefrom, and is provided with a handle, D, so that i this strap is auxiliary to the handle and may be taken hold of, as when it is desired to slacken the reins for easy driving. Said handle 0 and concomitant parts are supported on a rod, E, which slides ina guide,

15, to permit the proper adjustment of the reins, it being provided with longitudinal grooves E, to engage with anti-friction rollers F or keys F of the guide, the latter being tubular; but a good result can also be obtained by applying the handleto the part constituting the rod-guide, omitting the sliding rod, and in that case the part named may be solid.

On the rod-guide F is arranged a spring, E, to impinge against the sliding rod E, this spring having a toe, t, at the free end, projecting inwardly through a suitable opening.

dle G is fitted into a socket, H, in such a manner that this socket forms an axial bearing for the spindle, allowing it,'together with the rodguide F and rod E, to turn in either direction, and on the socket is arranged a spring, I, which is similar to the spring E of the rod-guide, it impinging against the spindle by means of a The spin- IOO toe, I, which is applied to the free end of the spring to project inwardly through a suitable opening in the socket, so that this spring exerts a frictional pressure on the spindle, ten ding to prevent it from turning. In practice, the socket H is secured to the dashboard J, or any other suitable part of a vehicle, preferably in a vertical position, and, due to the pivot G, the sliding rod E may then be turned to avertical position in front ofthe dash-board, as shown in Fig. 5, as when a stop is made in driving, and in this manner the rod is brought out of the way of persons entering or leaving the vehicle, while it is left convenient of access to the driver for resuming control of the horse, the reins preserving the proper position. The position of the handle A on the sliding rod E is at its rear end, while the point at which the spindle G is connected to the rod-guide F is at the forward end of the latter, and by this arrangement the sliding rod is caused to retain its vertical position by gravity, inasmuch as when the rod is brought to that position it slides downward through the rod-guide, bringing the center of gravity below the pivot G. Another effect of said arrangement is that when the sliding rod E is turned to a vertical position the rein holding medium is brought to an extreme forward position and the reins are properly paid out. At a point in rear of the pivot G the rod-guide F has a projection, F', in which is arranged a screw, K, and when the sliding rod E is brought to a horizontal position, or any other position convenient to the driver, this screw impinges against the spindle G, as shown in Fig. 4, thus acting as a stop to sustain the rod or other part composing the handle-carrier in the position named; but it is evident that other means may be used for this purpose, while a stop may also be used for holding the parts in a vertical position. It will be noticed that the screw K determines the height of the handle 0 from the floor of the vehicle when the handle-carrier is at rest, and it being adjustable, such height of the handle can thereby be varied, the handle-carrier taking a horizontal or an inclined position, as the case may be. In order to prevent the screw K from turning accidentally, it is beveled at the free end to a straight edge, 8, and the spindle G is provided with a notch, s, to receive such end of the screw, as shown in Fig. 6, thus holding it stationary.

When the controller is used for more than one or two horses, provision is made for holding additional reins as follows: On the sliding rodE is mounted a cross-head, N, Figs. 1 and 2, which is provided at the opposite ends with eyes 0, through which are drawn, in a forward direction, the ends of straps P, so that such ends, which are provided with hooks Q or other means for holding reins, may be connected to the proper reins, as shown in Fig. 1. Each of the straps P is provided with a handle, 1?, whereby it may be conveniently taken hold of for adjusting the additional reins in the desired manner. In the example shown there are two eyes, 0, at each end of the crosshead N; but it is evident that the number thereof may be varied according to the number of additional reins to be used. The crosshead N, moreover, may be applied to the rodguide F when the latter constitutes the handle-carrier.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with a pair of reins for driving horses, of a loop attached to one such rein at a point approximately opposite the horses tail, to receive the other rein, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. A rein-controller consisting of a handle having its opposite ends provided with jointed hooks for receiving the reins, substantially as described.

3. A rein-controller consisting of a handle having its opposite ends provided with jointed hooks, in combination with reins having a series of holes to engage the hooks, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4-. A rein-controller consisting of a handle having its opposite ends provided with jointed hooks for receiving the reins, in combination with a central pivotal support for the handle, substantially as and for the purpose described.

5. A rein-controller consisting of a handle having its opposite ends provided with means for holding reins, and having branches on opposite sides of its center projecting in curved lines forwardly and laterally therefrom, substantially as and for the purpose described.

6. The combination of a handle having its opposite ends provided with means for holding reins, and having branches on opposite sides of its center and a pivotal support for the handle, substantially as and for the purpose described.

7. The combination of a handle having its opposite ends provided with means for holding reins, a pivotal support for the handle, and a handle-strap connected to the opposite ends of the handle to project rearwardly therefrom, substantially as and for the purpose described.

8. The combination of a handle having its opposite ends provided with means for holding reins, a handle-carrier, and a pivotal support, substantially as and for the purpose described.

9. The combination of a handle-carrier, a pivotal support, and an adjustable stop for regulating the position of the handle-carrier when in use, substantially as and for the purpose described.

10. The combination of a rein holder, a sliding rod supporting the rein-holder, a guide for the sliding rod, and a friction-spring arranged on the rod-guide to act on the rod, substantially as and for the purpose described.

11. The combination of a rein-holder,a sliding rod supporting the rein-holder, a guide for the sliding rod, and a pivotal support for the rod-guide, arranged to permit it, together with the rod,to assume a horizontal or vertical position, substantially as and for the purpose described. r i

12. The combination of a rein-holder,a sliding rod supporting the rein-holder, a guide for the sliding rod, a vertical spindle having a "pivotal connection with the rod-guide to supforming an axial bearing for the spindle, and

a friction-spring arranged on the socket to act on the spindle, substantially as and for the purpose described. 1

14. The combination of a rein;holder, a sliding rod supporting therein-holdena guide for the sliding rod, a pivotal support for the rodguide, and an adjustable stop for sustaining the rod-guide,together with the rod, in the desired position when in use, substantially as and for the purpose described.

15. The combination of a rein-holder, a sliding rod supporting the rein-holder at its rear end, a guide for .the sliding rod, a spindle united to the forward end of the rod-guide by a horizontal pivot, and a set-screw arranged in a projection of the rod-guide to impinge against the spindle for sustaining the rod-guide and rod in a horizontal or other position, substantially as described.

16. The combination,with ahandle-carrier, of the cross-head having an eye or eyes at the opposite ends, and a handle strap or straps having the ends drawn forwardly through the eye or eyes of the cross-head, and provided with means for holding reins, substantially as and for the purpose described.

17. The combination, with the sliding rod E, of the cross-head on such rod, having an eye or straps having the ends drawn forwardly through the eye or eyes of the cross-head, and provided with means for holding reins, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

AnBIN WARTH. [L s.]

Witnesses CHAS. WAHLERS, E. F. KASTENHUBER. 

